Intel urges more Govt spending on infrastructure

The move is to help people in rural areas gain access to information and help small and medium businesses improve their competitiveness.

Debjani Ghosh, Intel's director of sales and marketing for Southeast Asia, said the most suitable technology is wireless and the best wireless technology is WiMax- Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access.

She said WiMax is a 4th generation wireless communications product that is designed and developed to optimise data communication.

 She advised the government not to miss the opportunity when updating the country's technology infrastructure and encourage the private sector to invest in its implementation.

According to a study called, "Connected Nation", a consultancy report for US President Barack Obama's broadband policy, there are around 4 billion people around the world who need a broadband connection, while only 400 million people have it. It said a 7-per-cent increase in broadband adoption in the United States could boost the economy by $134 billion (Bt4.6 trillion) and create 2.35 million jobs.

"It is not about putting huge amounts of money into broadband infrastructure investment but is about how the government invests in the right, and latest technology. The government cannot afford to wait until it develops a spectrum policy, it should encourage the private sector to go ahead," Ghosh said.

She said that within Southeast Asia, Thailand still does not have WiMax, while neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines do.

WiMax has been a key factor in helping increase those countries' broadband penetration rates. This has helped make their businesses more competitive.

Intel Microelectronics (Thailand), in cooperation with the Information and Communication Technology Ministry, is to arrange a "Government Economic Forum" to discuss the government's IT policy and how it can stimulate economic activity.

Apart from Intel and the ministry, participants will include chief information officers from all 20 government ministries, the National Telecommunication Commission, officials from the National Economic and Social Development Board, and the Budget Bureau. The aim is to motivate broadband infrastructure implementation in Thailand.